Monticello Live

Victoria Pedraza leaving Courthouse after her 20 year sentence for Permitting Abuse of a Minor, which led to the death of her Daughter.

As the Victoria Pedraza trial is updated throughout the day, the MOST RECENT updates will be posted on top.

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The restitution hearing for former Drew County Circuit Clerk Pat Savage Montgomery was held Monday morning, at the Drew County Courthouse.

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A local woman was ticketed by Monticello Police, recently, after complaints from neighbors about her dogs.

When the animal control officer counted, she had a total of 13 dogs on her property.

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A local 25 year old man accepted guilty pleas in Desha County on aggravated robbery and theft of property, among other charges, Monday, for 40 years in prison.

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Between Saturday night and Monday morning,  at least 5 Hyatt Street residences had reported having vehicles broken into.

Most of the vehicles were unlocked, but one vehicle was forcefully entered.

At least two handguns were taken, during the theft spree.

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According to AshleyCountyLedger.com, Ashley County law enforcement offficers  have arrested  Tommy Kendall, following a t2o day manhunt for the Louisiana burglary suspect, wanted by Morehouse Parish, West Carroll Parish Sheriff’s Office and Bonita Police.

Monticello Police have been receiving multiple complaints about Vivint Security salesmen, much like they did last August, see Insecure Home Security Salesmen Invade Monticello for a surprise  interview with one of their door-knockers..

Detailed below are 3 cases, since Saturday, where MPD has been called about the orange-clad solicitors.

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According the Drew County Sheriff Mark Gober, around 8:15 Monday evening. a deputy conducted a traffic stop on a Dodge Durango on W. Conrad Street.   The Durango then failed to use their turn signal and almost caused an accident on HWY 425, while turning south.

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Around 6:00, Sunday morning, a city employee noticed that two Ford F-150 pick-up trucks, with “City of Monticello” decals on the doors, had been stolen from the city warehouse, located between E. McCloy and E. Trotter Streets.

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Tuesday at 11:30 am, the fate of Daniel Pedraza was turned over to 12 jurors, who had heard more about child abuse and suffering, than any of them had ever imagined was possible.  Saturday, Pedraza had accepted a guilty plea, which took his possible death sentence out of their hands, but admitting that the 2 year old’s step-father had “knowingly caused the death” of Aubriana Coke. left as little as 10 of prison time, ranging to as much as the rest of his life in jail as options.

MLive spoke to an anonymous juror, after the sentence was read, who mentioned these thought’s about the jury’s deliberation….

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Monticello Police confirmed the Thursday arrest of Jimmy Kincade, Jr., who along with his brother, Jermaine Kincade (arrested Friday), allegedly shot a shotgun at three Turtle Creek Apt. residentS, last Thursday, seriously injuring two of the victims.  The pair of brothers then fled the scene, to be found later at Pilgrim Rest Apts., when they then fled on foot.

Both were arrested in Chicot County, due to the co-operative efforts between the Chicot County Sheriff’s Dept. and Monticello Police.

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Around 3:30 Tuesday afternoon, a distressed 22 year old man ran from the DHS parking lot, across HWY 425, and into Popeye’s restaurant.

The upset man ran behind the counter, and began throwing food and containers, before the Monticello Police Dept. and SEEMS arrived, assisted by Arkansas State Police and Sheriff Mark Gober, who were quickly able to bring the man under control, and get him into appropriate medical care.

More details have come to light, following Friday morning’s discovery of the vandalism at Drew Central High School, including a list of approximately a dozen “senior prank” suspects, and the realization of around $5,000 in damage.

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Recently, an 18 year old Monticello youth was arrested twice in one evening.

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According to Sheriff Mark Gober, deputies arrested a 16 year old male, who is now in juvenile custody.

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Monticello schools are continuing to work toward adding a school resource officer to their staff.  The topic was thoroughly discussed at their March boad meeting.

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According to Lt. Jason Akers of the Tenth Drug Task Force, a 52 year old Monticello man was arrested by Drug Task Force Agents last week, and faces felony narcotics charges after what Agents suspect to be methamphetamine was located inside his vehicle on a traffic stop.

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On Wednesday evening, April 10, around 6 pm, Monticello Police received a call from a local woman, reporting that she had been threatened by four suspects from Dumas on a local church parking lot.  One of them allegedly pointed a handgun at her, through her vehicle window.

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Circuit Court Judge Kenny Johnson, Monday, set a $150,000 bond for the man accused in the First Degree Murder of an area woman, who was located in a grave behind the suspect’s house.  She had been missing for nine days. 

The suspect is also charged with Abuse of Corpse. (more…)

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The Monticello Police Department awarded Patrolman Kyle Berryman, Policeman of the Year.  The Monticello Lions Club presented Kyle $100 at their meeting, Thursday.

Police Chief Eddie Deaton and Capt Carlos Garcia selected Patrolman Kyle Berryman for this prestigious award. They said various criteria was the basis for the award and Kyle’s achievements for the past 12 months far exceeded everyone else.

Kyle has been a Monticello policeman 4 years.  He is married to the former Amber Nixon, a registered nurse. They have two children, ages 8 and 4. Shown in picture are Amber and Kyle Berryman, Lions Club President Don Hogue, Police Capt Carlos Garcia and Chief Eddie Deaton.

Around 1:45 Wednesday afternoon,  the drivers of a Toyota Camry turned Monticello’s busiest intersection into a demolition derby, as he allegedly “ping ponged” into 4 other vehicles.

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An Ordinance to amend the hours liquor can be served in private clubs in the city limits of Monticello was presented to the City Council at the Council’s meeting Thursday evening.

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Tuesday, around 2 pm, MLive pageviews sharply increased.  This usually means that a topic was making its way around FaceBook or text messages.

The rumor in this case was that a man was walking down a road near Midway Route with a gun.

Here are the details of that incident.

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Early Monday morning,, while responding to a suspicious vehicle parked at a cemetery report, Monticello Police Department officers stopped a vehicle at the AT&T store on HWY 425 North.  During that stop, a registered sex offender was identified and charged with Failure to Report Change of Address.

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Daniel Pedraza, a Drew County man facing a capitol murder trial with a possible death sentence asked the Arkansas Supreme Court t grant his petition of Writ for Certiorari, in an effort to get a continuance to for his attorney to prepare for his upcoming case.

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Prosecutor Thomas Deen has filed criminal charges against Bryant Childs, the big-rig driver who jumped out of a loaded asphalt truck, causing he death of the driver of a mini-van, when it was crushed by his abandoned vehicle.

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Around midnight on March 5,  a Drew County man was arrested by Drew County Sheriff’s deputies, following an alleged domestic disturbance.  He reportedly assaulted his wife and was waving a handgun in front of witnesses.

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On March 4, a resident of  W. Trotter St. reported his vehicle of been broken into.  Items stolen included a Pioneer CD player, causing substantial damage to his dash.

On March 5, a resident of N. Hyatt St. reported that her Camaro had some offensive words scratched into it’s hood, drivers door, and rear fender.

On March 6, a resident of N. Cooper Street reported that her Chevy Malibu had been scratched or keyed down both sides. The drivers front window appeared to be cracked, as well.

Drew County currently does not have an active parole / probation case officer dedicated for the county’s offenders. Currently, officers designated for other counties are covering Drew County, on top of their regular responsibilities. 

When questions about probation case in Circuit Court Monday, Judge Gibson said that was under the impression the each officer had a maximum case load of 25.  Court testimony later reflected that total has been increased up to 60.

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After several complaints about vehicles and ATV’s “mud ridin’ ” in the construction area of the future I-69, authorities have been patrolling the area.

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Around 8 PM Wednesday evening, Drew County Sheriff’s deputies were called to the report of an assault, with shots being fired at a residence on Carter Road, near Wilmar.

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An arrest has been made in this case, which ran on MLive last week.

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